The crime rate in Malibu increased approximately 24 percent from 2011 to 2012, according to crime statistics released last week by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Conversely, the crime rate in the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station jurisdiction decreased by 5.4 percent, the most significant decrease of any station in the county.
Last year, the number of “part one” crimes, including violent and property crimes, increased by 24.7 percent in Malibu compared to the previous year. The instances of robbery, burglary, larceny theft, grand theft auto and rape all increased. The greatest increases came in the theft categories. In 2011 there were 176 reported incidents of larceny theft and in 2012 there were 233 such incidents reported. Last year, there were nine more instances of grand theft auto in Malibu than the year before, an increase from 10 to 19 incidents. Additionally, while there were two robberies in 2011, there were five reported in 2012.
The only area of crime that saw a decrease from 2011 to 2012 was aggravated assault. There were five incidents reported last year, while eight were reported the year before.
There were no homicides or instances of arson in both 2011 and 2012.
Despite an increase in crime in Malibu, the overall rate for the cities in the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station’s jurisdiction decreased by nearly 5.5 percent, the most in the county. In addition to Malibu, the communities patrolled by the sheriff’s station include Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Westlake Village and unincorporated areas.
The LACSD released more than 100 pages of crime statistics for 2012, covering the 42 cities and 130 unincorporated communities that make up the county, last Wednesday. To view the reported crime data in full, visit lasd.org.